Mattei's Tavern Auberge Resort Los Olivos Santa Ynez Car Service

Airport Commuter Black SUV + Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chauffeur for the 1886 stagecoach tavern restored + reopened October 2022 as Auberge Resorts collection property — 67 rooms across the original 1886 Mattei's Tavern (restored with original detailing) + 21 new craftsman-style cottages + Mattei's Tavern Restaurant + The Lucky Hen Larder + Hadley Pool + spa + walking access to Los Olivos 50+ wine tasting rooms + Santa Ynez Valley wine country anchor + Sideways filming area + Solvang Danish heritage village 15 min west.

SBA Santa Barbara Municipal 1:00 south via US-101 + CA-154 (closest commercial) / LAX 2:30 south / SFO 5:00 north / SAN San Diego 4:30 south.

The 1886 Stagecoach Tavern — Auberge Resorts' Santa Ynez Valley Flagship

Mattei's Tavern was founded 1886 by Felix Mattei + an Italian-Swiss stagecoach hostler + operated continuously through the late 1800s + early 1900s + into the late 20th century as the iconic Santa Ynez Valley dining destination + closed for renovation 2018-2022 + Auberge Resorts acquired the property + invested in 4-year restoration + reopened October 2022 as the Santa Ynez Valley flagship destination. 67 rooms across the original 1886 Mattei's Tavern (restored with original stagecoach-era detailing including bar + woodwork) + 21 new craftsman-style cottages designed to complement the 1886 architecture + Auberge Resorts signature service standards. Auberge Resorts is California's iconic boutique luxury wine country resort operator + sister properties at Auberge du Soleil Napa Valley + Calistoga Ranch + Solage Calistoga + Stanly Ranch Carneros + Bardessono Yountville + Bishop's Lodge Santa Fe.

Why Santa Ynez Valley is California's overlooked wine country: 4 AVAs (Sta. Rita Hills + Ballard Canyon + Happy Canyon + Santa Ynez Valley AVA) + cool maritime influence from the Pacific enters through the only east-west-oriented California valley + creates dramatically different microclimates across 30-mile valley. Sta. Rita Hills cool-climate Pinot Noir + Chardonnay rivals Anderson Valley + Sonoma Coast at lower tasting room prices (Sea Smoke + Sandhi + Kistler) + Ballard Canyon warm-climate Syrah rivals Paso Robles (Stolpman + Beckmen) + Happy Canyon warm-climate Bordeaux rivals Napa Valley (Star Lane + Westerly). Plus Sideways pilgrimage + Solvang Danish heritage + Auberge Resorts luxury. LAX-accessible at 2:30 vs Napa's 4:00 from LAX. AC chauffeurs many SoCal guests who want NorCal wine country quality without the long drive.

What's at Mattei's Tavern Auberge Resort

67 rooms across the restored 1886 tavern + 21 new craftsman cottages. Original 1886 Mattei's Tavern preserved with stagecoach-era detailing + 21 new craftsman cottages 1-bedroom + 2-bedroom configurations + private patios + fireplaces in select cottages + Auberge Resorts signature service.

Mattei's Tavern Restaurant. The original 1886 saloon + Santa Ynez Valley farm-to-table California cuisine + dinner-only + reservations essential + the Santa Ynez Valley culinary destination since 1886.

The Lucky Hen Larder. Casual on-property market + cafe + outdoor patio + lunch + light dinner + the Auberge less-formal dining counterpoint.

Hadley Pool. The Auberge signature pool experience + the property's outdoor recreation anchor.

Full-service spa. Santa Ynez Valley botanical treatments + Auberge wellness standards.

Walking access to Los Olivos wine tasting district. 5 minutes walk to 50+ Santa Ynez Valley wine tasting rooms (Andrew Murray Vineyards + Brander Vineyard + Saarloos & Sons + Carhartt Family Wines + Stolpman Vineyards + Buttonwood Farm Winery + Larner Vineyard + Refugio Ranch + Beckmen Vineyards + Foley Estates).

Santa Ynez Valley signature destinations within chauffeur range

Los Olivos wine tasting district (5 min walk). 50+ Santa Ynez Valley wine tasting rooms + the iconic Los Olivos walk-base + every major Santa Ynez Valley wine producer has a tasting room here.

Solvang (15 min west). The iconic Danish heritage village + founded 1911 by Danish-American homesteaders + Danish architectural style throughout + 4 working Danish bakeries (Olsen's + Mortensen's + Solvang Bakery + Birkholm's) + aebleskiver pancake balls + Hans Christian Andersen Park + the Solvang walking experience.

Foxen Vineyards (25 min west). The iconic Foxen Canyon Pinot Noir + Chardonnay producer featured in Sideways.

Foxen Canyon Wine Trail (30 min west). The iconic small-producer trail.

The Hitching Post II (15 min west in Buellton). The iconic Sideways Pinot Noir bar restaurant + restored 1970s era roadhouse + Frank Ostini's family operation + the Sideways pivot scene location.

Buellton (15 min west). Pea Soup Andersen's pea soup restaurant 1924 + Industrial Eats + Mendiola's Beef Jerky.

Sta. Rita Hills AVA (15-30 min west). Cool-climate Pinot Noir + Chardonnay + Sea Smoke + Sandhi + Tyler + Kistler + Babcock.

Ballard Canyon AVA (15 min north). Warm-climate Syrah + Rhone varietals + Stolpman + Beckmen + Larner + Saarloos & Sons.

Happy Canyon AVA (15 min east). Warm-climate Bordeaux varietals + Star Lane + Westerly + Vogelzang + Margerum.

Lompoc (45 min west). Cool-climate Sta. Rita Hills production area + Wine Ghetto industrial wine center (25+ small wineries).

Santa Barbara + Montecito (1:00 south). Four Seasons Biltmore + Rosewood Miramar Beach + Ritz-Carlton Bacara + San Ysidro Ranch + Belmond El Encanto.

Santa Ynez Valley wine country + Sideways pilgrimage + Solvang Danish heritage multi-day immersion. Mattei's Tavern Auberge multi-night base + Mattei's Tavern Restaurant + Los Olivos tasting room walking day + Sideways pilgrimage (Hitching Post II + Foxen) + Solvang Danish village + Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir + Ballard Canyon Syrah + Happy Canyon Bordeaux varietals + Santa Barbara/Montecito combo (1:00 S) + LA Hollywood extension (2:30 S) + NorCal wine grand tour extension (Napa/Sonoma/Anderson Valley/Mendocino via SFO 5:00 N). SBA/LAX/SFO arrival.
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Chauffeur arrival logistics

SBA Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (closest commercial, recommended). 1:00 south via US-101 + CA-154 + 45 miles + United + American + Alaska + Delta + Southwest service + the natural arrival airport for Santa Ynez Valley.

LAX Los Angeles International. 2:30 south via US-101 + CA-154 + 145 miles + the LA arrival route + can pair with Hollywood Heritage + LA day + Beverly Hills overnight.

SFO San Francisco International. 5:00 north via US-101 + CA-154 + 300 miles + Bay Area arrival + for NorCal wine grand tour extension.

SAN San Diego. 4:30 south + 230 miles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Mattei's Tavern Auberge Resort the Santa Ynez Valley anchor?

Mattei's Tavern is the only Auberge Resorts collection property in Santa Ynez Valley + sister to Auberge du Soleil Napa Valley + Calistoga Ranch + Solage Calistoga + Stanly Ranch Carneros + the Auberge brand is California's iconic boutique luxury wine country resort operator. The original 1886 Mattei's Tavern stagecoach tavern was founded by Italian-Swiss Felix Mattei + operated continuously for 130+ years as the iconic Santa Ynez Valley dining destination + closed for renovation 2018-2022 + Auberge invested in 4-year restoration + reopened October 2022 as the Santa Ynez Valley flagship destination. 67 rooms across the restored 1886 tavern + 21 new craftsman-style cottages + Mattei's Tavern Restaurant + The Lucky Hen Larder + Hadley Pool + full-service spa + walking access to Los Olivos 50+ wine tasting rooms. AC chauffeurs many guests who want the Auberge brand experience in Santa Ynez Valley + the property is the iconic Los Olivos walk-base for tasting rooms.

How does Santa Ynez Valley wine compare to Napa, Sonoma, and Anderson Valley?

Santa Ynez Valley is California's iconic Central Coast wine country + 4 AVAs (Sta. Rita Hills + Ballard Canyon + Happy Canyon + Santa Ynez Valley AVA) + cool maritime influence from the Pacific Ocean enters through the Santa Ynez Valley east-west orientation + creates dramatically different microclimates across the 30-mile valley (the only east-west-oriented California valley creating unique terroir). Sta. Rita Hills AVA (cool-climate Pinot Noir + Chardonnay rivals Anderson Valley + Sonoma Coast quality at significantly lower tasting room prices, Sea Smoke + Sandhi + Kistler are the top producers) + Ballard Canyon AVA (warm-climate Syrah + Rhone varietals comparable to Paso Robles, Stolpman + Beckmen) + Happy Canyon AVA (warm-climate Bordeaux varietals comparable to Napa Valley, Star Lane + Westerly). Santa Ynez Valley combines Sideways pilgrimage + Solvang Danish heritage + Auberge Resorts luxury + LAX-accessible at 2:30 vs Napa Valley's 4:00 from LAX. AC chauffeurs many SoCal-origin guests who want Northern California wine country quality without the long drive + reverse-chauffeurs Northern California guests for Santa Ynez Valley + Sideways pilgrimage + Solvang heritage.

What's the Sideways pilgrimage and which filming locations are still operating?

The 2004 Alexander Payne film Sideways (Paul Giamatti + Thomas Haden Church + Virginia Madsen + Sandra Oh) is the iconic Santa Ynez Valley + California Pinot Noir cultural reference + the film's road trip route through Santa Ynez Valley wineries created a measurable surge in California Pinot Noir consumption ('the Sideways effect' is studied in wine industry data + Merlot sales declined for 10 years after the film's anti-Merlot dialogue). Sideways filming locations still operating include: The Hitching Post II Restaurant + Wines (15 min west in Buellton, the iconic 1970s era roadhouse, Frank Ostini's family operation, the Pinot Noir bar where Miles drinks at the bar + Maya is the bartender, the film's pivot scene location), Foxen Vineyards (25 min west, the small-producer Pinot Noir + Chardonnay tasting room where Miles + Jack visit), Sanford Winery (Sta. Rita Hills, Miles + Jack tasting room visit), Andrew Murray Vineyards (Los Olivos tasting room district), and Buellton's Days Inn (Miles' hotel base in the film, now a different hotel chain). AC chauffeurs guests on the Sideways pilgrimage day + Hitching Post II dinner + Foxen + Sanford + Buellton anchor stops.

What's Solvang Danish heritage village?

Solvang is the iconic California Danish heritage village 15 minutes west of Mattei's Tavern + founded 1911 by Danish-American homesteaders from Iowa + Minnesota seeking to establish a Lutheran Danish folk school community + the entire town features Danish architectural style (white plaster + dark timber + thatched roofs on select buildings + windmills on Mission Drive + Bethania Lutheran Church Danish architecture). Solvang features 4 working Danish bakeries (Olsen's Danish Village Bakery + Mortensen's Danish Bakery + Solvang Bakery + Birkholm's Solvang Bakery) producing aebleskiver (Danish pancake balls), Danish butter cookies, kringle pastries + the entire town is essentially a Danish heritage cultural preservation. Hans Christian Andersen Park (named for the Danish author) + the Hans Christian Andersen Museum + the Sandbox children's outdoor play sculpture + Solvang Festival Theater + Solvang Brewing Company + the iconic California Danish village. AC chauffeurs guests on the Solvang walking tour + Danish bakery breakfast + Aebleskiver tasting.

Can Mattei's Tavern be combined with Santa Barbara, LA, or NorCal wine?

Yes - Mattei's Tavern Auberge Resort is positioned for multiple California wine + coast AC chauffeur itineraries. Santa Barbara + Montecito combo (1:00 south via US-101 + CA-154, Four Seasons Biltmore + Rosewood Miramar Beach + Ritz-Carlton Bacara + San Ysidro Ranch + Belmond El Encanto). LA + Hollywood combo (2:30 south via US-101, Beverly Hills Hotel + Hotel Bel-Air + Chateau Marmont + Sunset Marquis + California Hollywood Heritage Pilgrimage Hub). Pismo Beach + SLO + Central Coast (1:30 north). Hearst Castle + San Simeon Coast (2:30 north). NorCal wine extension via SFO (5:00 north): Napa + Sonoma + Russian River + Anderson Valley + Mendocino Coast. California wine grand tour: Santa Ynez Valley + Napa + Sonoma + Anderson Valley + Mendocino (10-day itinerary). Sideways pilgrimage + Solvang + Pinot Noir tasting day. AC arranges multi-destination California wine itineraries with vehicle positioning at LAX + SBA + SFO.

Nearest airport: SBA Santa Barbara Airport — flat-rate Black SUV transfers to Santa Barbara + the Santa Ynez Valley. Prefer the big airports? We drive the scenic leg from SFO, OAK & SJC too.
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